Axially actuated locking system for a retractable driveshaft and method for use thereof

Abstract

A locking system for use with a retractable driveshaft includes a housing, a rotating locking ring located at least partially to the housing, and a band configured to cooperatively engage the rotatable locking ring. Applying an axial force to the locking ring with the driveshaft causes rotation of the locking ring, thereby locking the driveshaft with the housing. Applying a second axial force to the locking ring with the driveshaft causes further rotation of the locking ring, which allows withdrawal of the driveshaft from the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A locking mechanism, comprising:
 a housing having a first end, an opposite second end, an interior surface, and a central axis, the interior surface including a grooved section having a plurality of grooves generally parallel to the central axis and a locking ring housing section located between the grooved section and the second end; 
 a locking ring located at least partially within the locking ring housing section, the locking ring including a plurality of channels generally parallel to the central axis; and 
 a band coupled to the housing, the band being configured to cooperatively engage the locking ring; 
 wherein the locking ring is configured to move from an unlocked position wherein the plurality of channels of the locking ring are generally aligned with the plurality of grooves of the housing to a locked position wherein the plurality of channels of the locking ring are offset from the plurality of grooves of the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shaft having a plurality of splines configured to pass through the plurality of channels of the locking ring and fit within the plurality of grooves of the housing. 
 
     
     
       3. The locking mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft further includes a flange configured to contact a bottom surface of the locking ring and apply an axial force thereto. 
     
     
       4. The locking mechanism of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an elastic member located between the locking ring and the housing, the elastic member being configured to bias the locking ring towards the band. 
 
     
     
       5. The locking mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the band includes a plurality of first projections extending towards the locking ring and the locking ring includes a plurality of second projections extending toward the band, and the plurality of second projections being configured to prevent relative rotation about the central axis between the locking ring and the band in at least a first direction. 
     
     
       6. The locking mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the locking ring includes a plurality of first protrusions extending towards the grooved section of the housing and the housing includes a plurality of second protrusions extending towards the locking ring, wherein the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions are configured to cause relative rotation about the central axis between the locking ring and the housing when the plurality of first protrusions are axially advanced into contact with the plurality of second protrusions. 
     
     
       7. The locking mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections have complementary sloped surfaces that cause the locking ring to rotate about the central axis relative to the housing when the plurality of first projections are axially advanced into contact with the plurality of second projections. 
     
     
       8. The locking mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured so that a total rotation of the locking ring relative to the housing caused by axial advancement of the plurality of first protrusions against the plurality of second protrusions and axial advancement of the plurality of first projections against the plurality of second projections is equal to a width of one of the plurality of grooves. 
     
     
       9. A method of locking and disengaging a driveshaft, comprising:
 providing a locking mechanism, comprising:
 a housing having a first end, an opposite second end, an interior surface, and a central axis, the interior surface including a grooved section having a plurality of grooves generally parallel to the central axis; 
 a locking ring including a plurality of channels generally parallel to the central axis; and 
 a band coupled to the housing, the band being configured to cooperatively engage the locking ring; 
 
 inserting the driveshaft into the locking mechanism along the central axis so that splines of the driveshaft pass through the plurality of channels of the locking ring; 
 advancing the locking ring toward the first end of the housing by applying an axial force thereto with a flange of the driveshaft; 
 backing the driveshaft until contact between the splines of the driveshaft and the locking ring prevents further backing of the driveshaft; 
 advancing the locking ring toward the first end of the housing by applying an axial force thereto with the flange of the driveshaft; and 
 withdrawing the driveshaft from the locking mechanism along the central axis so that the splines of the driveshaft pass through the plurality of channels of the locking ring. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the advancing of the locking ring causes a plurality of first protrusions extending from the locking ring to interact with a plurality of second protrusions extending from the housing, the interaction between the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions causing the locking ring to rotate relative to the housing. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the backing of the driveshaft allows a plurality of first projections extending from the band to interact with a plurality of second projections extending from the locking ring, the interaction between the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections causing the locking ring to rotate relative to the housing. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein a total rotation of the locking ring caused by the interaction between the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions and the interaction between the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections is equal to half of a combined width of one of the plurality of channels and one of a plurality of ridges between the plurality of channels. 
     
     
       13. An aircraft, comprising:
 a fuselage; 
 a driveshaft including a plurality of splines and a flange; 
 a gearbox; and 
 a locking system, comprising:
 a housing having a first end, an opposite second end, an interior surface, and a central axis, the interior surface including a grooved section having a plurality of grooves generally parallel to the central axis, the plurality of grooves being configured to receive the plurality of splines therein; 
 a locking ring including a plurality of channels generally parallel to the central axis, the plurality of channels being configured to allow the plurality of splines to pass therethrough when the locking ring is in an unlocked position; and 
 a band coupled to the housing, the band being configured to cooperatively engage the locking ring. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The aircraft of  claim 13 , wherein the locking system further includes an elastic member located between the locking ring and the band, the elastic member being configured to bias the locking ring towards the band. 
     
     
       15. The aircraft of  claim 14 , wherein the elastic member is a wave spring. 
     
     
       16. The aircraft of  claim 14 , wherein the locking ring includes a plurality of ridges separating the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of ridges having a top surface configured to bear against a bottom surface of one of the plurality of splines when the locking ring is in a locked position. 
     
     
       17. The aircraft of  claim 16 , wherein the band includes a plurality of first projections extending towards the locking ring and the locking ring includes a plurality of second projections extending toward the band, the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections being configured to prevent relative rotation about the central axis between the locking ring and the band in at least a first direction when the locking ring is in the unlocked position or in the locked position. 
     
     
       18. The aircraft of  claim 17 , wherein the locking ring includes a plurality of first protrusions extending towards the grooved section of the housing and the housing includes a plurality of second protrusions extending towards the locking ring, wherein the plurality of first protrusions and the plurality of second protrusions are configured to cause relative rotation about the central axis between the locking ring and the housing when the plurality of first protrusions are axially advanced into contact with the plurality of second protrusions. 
     
     
       19. The aircraft of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of first projections and the plurality of second projections have complementary sloped surfaces that cause the locking ring to rotate about the central axis relative to the housing when the plurality of first projections are axially advanced into contact with the plurality of second projections. 
     
     
       20. The aircraft of  claim 19 , wherein the locking system is configured so that a total rotation of the locking ring relative to the housing caused by axial advancement of the plurality of first protrusions against the plurality of second protrusions and axial advancement of the plurality of first projections against the plurality of second projections is equal to half of a combined width of one of the plurality of channels and one of the plurality of ridges.